What is a manic episode?

Manic episodes usually begin relatively abruptly, building up over a few days and then running their course. If untreated, manic episode may last anywhere from a few days to a few months.

Stressors that are disruptive to daily schedules, routines and rhythms are particularly likely to trigger a manic episode. Especially problematic are stressful events that disrupt sleep schedule.

In stark contrasts to depression positive life events can trigger manic episodes. Examples are attaining a promotion, being accepted into college or graduate school, or starting a new romance.

Cognitively manic individuals characteristically show widely inflated self-esteem believing themselves to be capable of great accomplishments or possessed of exceptional talent.

Manic individuals act on their high opinion of themselves. They behave recklessly, involving themselves in potentially risky business deals or sexual liaisons, wasting large sums of money in shopping sprees or gambling.

Other symptoms included: extreme feeling of self importance, racing thoughts, distractibility, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness and risky behavior.

Mania can ruin marriages, families, fortunes, and careers.
What is a manic episode?

Bipolar Depression

Bipolar Depression
Bipolar disorder is a serious disorder of the brain often confuse with depression alone.

Bipolar disorder was formerly called manic-depressive disorder. It is a type of depression, and it characterized by the presence of mood swings, especially "manic highs" that often result in high risk, self-damaging behavior.

Most individuals with bipolar disorder have both depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes.

The first to describe mania and melancholia as a bipolar disorder was the Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia in the first century AD. He considered melancholia and mania as two manifestations of one and the same disease.

Almost 70 percent of all those with bipolar disorder are depressed at any one time. People who cycle spend three times as much time being depressed as being maniac.

When bipolar is insufficiently treated, people spend an average of four months of the year in depression.

In bipolar depression people are likely to sleep more, rather than less. Normally people with bipolar depression are more likely to have an earlier onset of symptoms and a greater number of depression episodes.
Bipolar Depression